Saturday 24 September, 2011, 7.30pm 500 Years of English Choral Music Jubilate Deo in C Britten Hymn to the Mother of God Tavener If ye love me Tallis Ave verum Elgar This is the Record of John Gibbons Voluntary in G Boyce Song of Wisdom Stanford Hear my prayer, O lord Purcell O Lorde, the maker of all thing Joubert I vow to thee my country Holst Let all the world Vaughan Williams Ave Maria Parsons Processional Mathias Blessed city Bairstow Sing Joyfully Byrd Ex ore innocentium Ireland Like as the hart Howells Gaelic Blessing Rutter Jerusalem Parry Cathedral Choir, Cathedral Girls Choir, Philip Arkwright director Richard Lea organ A concert that combines the famous, the familiar, and the little-known, and which shows English choral music in all its variety

Friday 11 November, 2011, 7.30pm Crypt Concert Room Concert for Armistice DayBritten Agnus Dei (War Requiem) Elgar Preparation for Armistice German Pray for our soldiers Goodall In Memoriam Anne Frank Holst I vow to thee my country Parry My soul, there is a country Stanford Alleluia With songs by Butterworth and Somervell from ‘A Shropshire Lad’, piano music by Debussy, Casella’s extraordinarily evocative War Scenes for piano duet and readings from Brooke, Housman, and Sassoon. Moseley Hungarian Soldiers Songs (British première) There will also be two world premières of works for chorus by the Liverpool composers Daniel Rathbone and Michael Stubbs. Barbara Ruzsics, soprano Kirsty Ligertwood, soprano Maxwell Pettitt, John Moseley, piano duet Cantata Choir Richard Lea, director This is a unique event : an Armistice Day concert on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th year. Please note that it takes place on a Friday.

Saturday 10 December, 2011, 7.30pm Cathedral Christmas Concert Traditional carols for choirs, audience and orchestra The Clog Dance from the ballet "La fille mal gardée" and Anderson: Sleigh Ride for orchestra Carols old and new sung by the choirs Cathedral Girls Choir Cantata Choir Cathedral Orchestra Philip Arkwright, conductor Relax with a concert of festive seasonal music and join in old favourites such as ‘O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”.

Handel

Saturday 17 December, 2011, 7.30pm Cathedral Handel The Messiah Cantata Choir Cathedral Orchestra Richard Lea, conductor Handel’s wonderful oratorio is a special event at any time but is particularly appropriate for Christmas.